Anti anti-aging and Helen Mirren

I ran into the drugstore last week to pick up a few things, and was stopped in my tracks by this cover.

Not only did the headline grab me – “the end of anti-AGING” – but the fantastic photograph of none other than the grand dame herself, Helen Mirren.

Can we all sigh and say “girl crush?” Seriously.

Look at that image on the cover. And she’s 72! Geez, I want to be that cool at 72. Heck, I want to be that cool now. What a role model.

The article inside the magazine, Allure, referred to her as a woman, a star, who has “earned her reputation of authenticity, and (she) radiates a sense of humor and passion for fun. “She’s the A-list Dame who can pull off five-inch Lucite stripper heels on the red carpet . . . then hang with Vin Diesel one minute and the freaking queen the next. It’s not that she transforms the lowbrow into highbrow – she just makes it her own.”

I love the line . . . “she just makes it her own.” I think that should be the mantra that every woman over 50 lives by!

“I’m a get-a-dress-at-the-thrift-store-but-open-a-bottle-of-champagne kind of person.” Helen Mirren

I love Helen Mirren. (I told you, seriously crushin’ here.)

The other reason I broke down and bought this magazine was for the intriguing headline about ending the term anti-aging. I’ll give it up to the publication for no longer using the term and for requesting that all their advertisers take steps to do the same.

It’s about time, don’t you think?

Really, when you think about it, why on earth would anyone ever be against aging? The alternative is far worse, right? And, if nothing else, just out of respect for folks who don’t get to age, let’s recognize and embrace it for what it is. Life. Who doesn’t want more of that?

So I applaud the magazine for putting it out there. Of course, their primary audience is most likely 20 and 30-somethings who think 40 is ancient. But, oh well, I’m all for generating this kind of discussion, regardless.

We all know the intent of labeling beauty creams, make-up and hair products ‘anti-aging’ is to sell products to women (mostly) who have clearly received the message that looking your age over 40 is not a pretty thing. Without any sugar-coating, the message to women is “you’re not enough . . . anymore.”

Dang! And just when I’m finally feeling really, truly, super-enough.

To be clear, I’m not suggesting that we stop caring for ourselves and striving to look and feel our best every day. And to each her own in terms of what lengths she’ll go to or how many products or treatments a person is willing to use to achieve that – no judgment here whatsoever. What I will suggest, though, is that we double check to be sure that our motivation for looking and feeling our best is to live fully engaged and confident lives, especially now that we have so much to be confident about, and not to try to turn back the clock.

Cuz that train has left the station and the track it’s on just goes round and round and round and . . .

I don’t know about you but I’m enjoying my age quite a bit. True confession though – I really struggled for the year before my 60^th birthday. I just couldn’t grasp that I was actually going to be 60 years old! Once that passed, I started settling in to it, and finally feel more sure-footed again. Not thrilled with the mirror’s reflection all the time, but I can deal with that. The little aches and pains remind me to take care of myself and to move, but more gently than before. (Currently, my lower back is telling me it’s not happy with me, so I’m listening.)

When we do take a little time to care about ourselves – body, mind & spirit – we have a better chance of aging gracefully. And more happily.

I’m thinking that the best parts of being this age, and I’m guessing beyond, is the sense of peace that you gain in truly understanding and accepting who you are, the deep-knowing of what’s most important to you in your life, and the smarts to slow down and take in the moments of your life.

“40 is good, 50 is great, 60 is fab, and 70 is f**king awesome!” Helen Mirren

Although, there is the dream of being Helen Mirren-like as I age.

A girl can dream.

I’ll leave you with my new favorite quote that sums this whole thing up nicely, I think:

“Life is short. Take the trip. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake.” Anonymous

What do you think? Are you enjoying your age or still struggling a little bit with each birthday? And what do you think about the whole anti-aging thing?

Till next time,

Judy